The Maids and Cleaning for a Reason team up to donate cleaning... -- OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Maids and Cleaning for a Reason team up to donate cleaning services to women undergoing treatment for cancer

OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The primary focus of women diagnosed with cancer is recovery, and that means everyday chores, including housecleaning, often get pushed further and further down the to-do list. To help give these women peace of mind and ease their burdens, The Maids, the only franchised residential cleaning service to clean for health, is a partner with Cleaning for a Reason, a Texas non-profit organization, to provide free cleaning services to women undergoing cancer treatment around the nation.

Dianne Bjorn, the owner of a The Maids franchise in the greater Puget Sound area of Washington, is donating services and supplies to clean the homes this year of four women living with cancer. The professional cleanings are performed once a month for four months by employees who use a 22-Step Healthy Touch® Deep Cleaning System to ensure that every surface in every room is spotless when they are done.

"It's such a sense of relief for these women to know that their whole house is clean and they won't have to worry about it," said Bjorn, who has owned the franchise for 19 years and has been partnering with Cleaning for a Reason since its inception in 2006. "Knowing that we can do something soothing for these women is not only rewarding for our employees but also for us as a company. It leaves everyone with a happy heart."

The Cleaning for a Reason foundation was started by Texas businesswoman Debbie Sardone and partners with more than 1,000 professional cleaning companies across the United States and Canada. During the past six years, cleaning companies partnering with the organization have donated more than $2.9 million in services to more than 10,000 women with cancer.

About 40 percent of all The Maids franchisees participate in the cleaning program and the number is growing. Colin Bishop, President and CEO of The Maids, also has been involved with Cleaning for a Reason for several years as a member of its Board of Directors.

"When I first met Debbie, I became infatuated with her passion for what she was doing for these women. We're proud to partner with Cleaning for a Reason in its effort to make the lives of women undergoing cancer treatment a little easier. This also is a way for our franchisees to give back to the community and support those who don't have the energy to clean for themselves or the resources to pay for the service," said Bishop.

Women 19 and older who are currently undergoing cancer treatment can apply to receive the free service by visiting www.cleaningforareason.org. The organization verifies the treatment through the applicant's doctor then matches the patients with a local maid service partner.

About The Maids:

Known for its 22-Step Healthy Touch® Deep Cleaning System, The Maids is the only franchised residential cleaning service to clean for health, combining environmentally preferable cleaning supplies and state-of-the-art equipment with a methodical process to maintain the healthiest living environment possible for families. The Maids enjoys a 96 percent customer referral rate, distinguishing them as the residential cleaning service of choice. Visit The Maids (www.maids.com) for more information.